Why Georgia Won

No one in the media mentioned the best coaching call of the Georgia/Tennessee game, that wound up winning the game. With Tennessee content to keep running down the clock, on first and goal Georgia LET Tennessee score so the Dawgs would have time once they got the ball back. The call worked perfectly, and Murray methodically drove the Dawgs down the field for the game-tying touchdown with five seconds left.

For the first sixty minutes Georgia had to fight and claw for everything they could get. With three top players already sidelined with injuries, four more key players were knocked out of the Tennessee game – two with season-ending injuries. QB Aaron Murray was working with two freshman running backs and his fourth and fifth best wide receivers. But everyone stepped up and did their job. Great play call at the end of the third quarter to have Murray run the ball. He wasn't content to pick up the first down and go down - he kept going until the defensive back was able to wrestle him to the ground.

As I've said in the past, it's impossible for a college football team to get pumped up sky-high for every game on its schedule. They have to show up and focus, knowing no game will be handed to them. While Georgia has had to face three top ten teams in their first four games, Tennessee had only faced one top team in their first five. In an effort to win the Vols pulled out all the stops. Their coach was ranting and raving on the sidelines, arguing with refs over obvious calls. They played well, and most of the referee's questionable calls went their way.

Many blame the Georgia defense and the coordinator, forgetting that it was common knowledge going into the season that the Dawgs were quite inexperienced on that side of the ball. The Volunteer QB had a career game, and their play-calling was to be commended – especially on fourth down. Looked like the needless "block" the Tennessee player put on Georgia's punter was a shot to the head that should've been penalized. Couple that with the field goal that clanged off the cross bar and Georgia wins by ten points.

Now with three top offensive players out for the year, more games will be down to the wire battles. This week's game against Missouri just got a lot harder. Florida and Auburn will be tough as well.